Captured!!! Thud! Thud! , Thud! I woke up. What was going on? I scanned the room and it looked like a jail cell. The room was maybe 10 feet by 10 feet at most. There was a bed to my left and I saw a sink and toilet in the corner. Who was I? Thoughts were racing throughout my head at a mile a minute. Then, I heard a BEEP. I quieted down the beatings of my heart and focused on the noise. It was coming from the left. It was almost pitch black in the room but I saw a faint light under the cot. I got on my stomach and then looked under the bed. I looked and then I saw a blackberry with a voice message on it. I clicked the button to play and the voice came out. You are Timothy Ter Muffin and I am… well, you can call me Zeke. I have captured your family and you have 36 hours to find them or … you know what. Now I know you have many questions and I’m the only one with all the answers but you have to get out of the jail cell first. There is a lever hidden inside this room that will get you out. I will see you soon but for now, bye. The automated message then turned off. Wow, I thought. This was getting pretty serious. I had to find out who this Zeke guy is, I had to find my family, I had to get out of the jail cell and I had to figure out who I was. Wait, I thought. I needed to take this one step at a time. First, I would need to get out of this jail cell and then maybe I would see this shady character Zeke again. I looked around my cell and checked everywhere. I looked under the bed, in the sink, behind the toilet, and even in the sink pipes. After one hour of looking I was getting very frustrated. I started not thinking clearly and I was practically sent into a rage. Eventually after almost two hours of searching I had an epiphany. What if the lever was in the walls? I pushed and pulled some of the stone in the wall and finally one came out almost like a Jenga piece. After it came out I saw the lever Zeke was talking about. I pulled it and the door shot open. Then, I sprinted out the door as if it might close. Next, I scanned the outside. It was completely abandoned. It looked like a ghost town gone wrong. There was a lot of wreckage in this jail. I saw broken doors and cracked stone everywhere. Was my cell the only one that was still intact? Adrenaline was coursing through my body and I wanted to get out of this broken down jail. Three pathways stood in front of me. One to the left, one to the right, and one straight. I went to the right but soon realized it was a dead end. I went back and tried straight but it was a dead end too. Now, I thought it was left for sure so I went left but it was a dead end. I had no idea what I could do now. I checked back to see if I missed anything but sure enough nothing was to the left, to the right, or straight. I then looked up and saw a ladder. I jumped off a couple of pieces of rubble and grabbed hold of the ladder. After climbing up it I saw daylight and I ran towards it. I looked around and noticed some buildings but other that that I saw that I was in a small town. Also, I saw mountains in the background and an ocean way out to my northeast. Suddenly, I heard another BEEP from my pocket. Until I grabbed my phone I didn’t realize how grimy I looked. I wasn’t wearing any shoes and my jeans practically looked grey from all the dirt and dust. I reached for the blackberry and then looked at the message. It stated you have proved yourself after this first task. Here is some information about you. Previously, you were a surgeon. You had gone to MIT and gone onto medical school. You have a family of 5; their names were Jane, John, Jenny, and Jack. Now, here is your next task. In town there is an auto parts dealer named Vladimir. Find him and he will give you your next task. Memories were flooding back to me like a dam being broken. John, John, Jenny, and Jack were all familiar names and pictures were coming back to me of them, my old life, and even my college days. I was crying hysterically and it was such a relief to hear the names and remember them. All of these memories were great but I had to focus at the task at hand: finding my family. Then, I heard another BEEP. The message stated you have 30 Hours left to find your family. Had it really been 6 hours since I awoke. I then saw some people crossing the road. I approached them but they seemed a little shocked by my appearance. “What town is this?” I asked. “Я не говорю по английски,” one responded in a thick Russian accent. I knew that they would be no help so I looked around but all the signs were in Russian. Despite all these foreign signs I finally spotted a sign in English. It was a billboard for auto parts. It stated that Vlad’s Auto Parts was the best in town and that you should go there for all your car’s needs. I then looked around town and finally stumbled upon the shop. This auto parts shop reminded me more of a junkyard than an auto parts shop. There were tools just lying on the floor and broken cars with rust all over them. I could hear the sound of drilling and sawing from the back and the shop reeked from the smell of oil and old socks. I finally saw a desk hidden behind a workbench so I then approached the woman who sat at the desk. “Can I speak to Vladimir?” I asked the woman. “Sure, I’ll send him over,” she responded hesitantly. “Vlad, there’s a man out here to see you,” she hollered. Suddenly, a door swung open and a man with a mustache and a beard came out. He was wearing and striped sweater with jeans and his looks made you want to crawl in a corner and hide. “What can I do for you young fellow?” he asked menacingly. “I was sent here by Zeke.” I said. I tried to respond in an equally menacing tone but it just sounded odd. “Ah, good ole’ Zeke. We were pals a long while ago but we had a bit of a falling out. He asked me to give this to you,” he handed me a piece of paper and I quickly snatched it out of his hand and read the message. It stated you’ve been working hard but I’d estimate it’s getting close to nightfall and you need a place to stay. Vladimir has a guest bed at the loft above the shop and I’m sure he’d welcome you in. After that go down to the shore and you’ll see a jet ski waiting there for you. The key to the jet skiwill be the easiest thing to find but also the hardest. Then, go to the island farthest out in thehorizon and you’ll find me. I’ll be waiting. I looked outside and sure enough the sun was setting. Man, where had the day gone? I was anxious to finally be reunited with my family and I was sweating buckets after this long and treacherous day. Then, I asked Vladimir about the guest bed and sure enough he said that I could stay the night as long as I was out of the place by 7 O’ Clock in the morning. I realized that I was as tired as could be so I crept into bed and slept like a log. The next morning I woke up to the sound of a BEEP from my pocket. The message said I only had 12 hours left to save my family. I took off running and headed toward the coastline. I was gasping for air as I sprinted towards the coast but I couldn’t see it yet. I didn’t know if I could make it all the way but suddenly I saw water and looked around for the jet ski. Sure enough it was there, tethered to the dock. I then thought about what Zeke said. The key will be the hardest thing to find but also the easiest he had said. I looked around the jet ski and around the beach. Next, I thought about what he had said again. I realized that when he said easiest it might be in the simplest place but so simple no one would check there. I then checked the key slot in the jet ski and it was already in. Finally, I turned the key and headed out towards the island. The jet ski roared as I headed out towards the horizon. Water came up the side of the jet ski and soaked me to the bone. My teeth were chattering like no tomorrow but I pushed through the cold and arrived at the island. As I stepped out of the jet ski and onto the shore I realized I had stepped on something. “Aaaaaah!” I screamed. I curled in a ball on the ground screaming in agony. I then looked at my foot. It was cut from broken glass and the cut was as big as my palm. I looked around for something to wrap it in but I saw nothing so I took off my drenched shirt and tied it around the cut. I was still wounded from the cut but I knew I had to keep moving so I traveled up the path. To my dismay I saw a motorcycle along the marble path with the key already in it. I hopped onto the motorcycle and then I road down the path. I saw a hill coming up and as soon as I cleared it I saw my family. I was filled with joy and tears and as I was running towards them I heard a click. My whole family was all yelling no but I was too filled with joy to even want to listen. Next, I heard a boom off in the distance. Then, one boom came even closer. Then, three more came getting closer every time. Finally, a click came from right under me and I realized what had just happened. A minefield was all around me.
Thud! Thud! , Thud! I woke up. What was going on? I scanned the room and it looked like a jail cell. The room was maybe 10 feet by 10 feet at most. There was a bed to my left and I saw a sink and toilet in the corner. Who was I? Thoughts were racing throughout my head at a mile a minute. Then, I heard a BEEP. I quieted down the beatings of my heart and focused on the noise. It was coming from the left. It was almost pitch black in the room but I saw a faint light under the cot. I got on my stomach and then looked under the bed. I looked and then I saw a blackberry with a voice message on it.
I clicked the button to play and the voice came out. You are Timothy Ter Muffin and I am… well, you can call me Zeke. I have captured your family and you have 36 hours to find them or … you know what. Now I know you have many questions and I’m the only one with all the answers but you have to get out of the jail cell first. There is a lever hidden inside this room that will get you out. I will see you soon but for now, bye. The automated message then turned off. Wow, I thought. This was getting pretty serious. I had to find out who this Zeke guy is, I had to find my family, I had to get out of the jail cell and I had to figure out who I was. Wait, I thought. I needed to take this one step at a time. First, I would need to get out of this jail cell and then maybe I would see this shady character Zeke again.
I looked around my cell and checked everywhere. I looked under the bed, in the sink, behind the toilet, and even in the sink pipes. After one hour of looking I was getting very frustrated. I started not thinking clearly and I was practically sent into a rage. Eventually after almost two hours of searching I had an epiphany. What if the lever was in the walls? I pushed and pulled some of the stone in the wall and finally one came out almost like a Jenga piece. After it came out I saw the lever Zeke was talking about. I pulled it and the door shot open.
Then, I sprinted out the door as if it might close. Next, I scanned the outside. It was completely abandoned. It looked like a ghost town gone wrong. There was a lot of wreckage in this jail. I saw broken doors and cracked stone everywhere. Was my cell the only one that was still intact? Adrenaline was coursing through my body and I wanted to get out of this broken down jail. Three pathways stood in front of me. One to the left, one to the right, and one straight. I went to the right but soon realized it was a dead end. I went back and tried straight but it was a dead end too. Now, I thought it was left for sure so I went left but it was a dead end. I had no idea what I could do now. I checked back to see if I missed anything but sure enough nothing was to the left, to the right, or straight. I then looked up and saw a ladder. I jumped off a couple of pieces of rubble and grabbed hold of the ladder. After climbing up it I saw daylight and I ran towards it.
I looked around and noticed some buildings but other that that I saw that I was in a small town. Also, I saw mountains in the background and an ocean way out to my northeast. Suddenly, I heard another BEEP from my pocket. Until I grabbed my phone I didn’t realize how grimy I looked. I wasn’t wearing any shoes and my jeans practically looked grey from all the dirt and dust. I reached for the blackberry and then looked at the message. It stated you have proved yourself after this first task. Here is some information about you. Previously, you were a surgeon. You had gone to MIT and gone onto medical school. You have a family of 5; their names were Jane, John, Jenny, and Jack. Now, here is your next task. In town there is an auto parts dealer named Vladimir. Find him and he will give you your next task. Memories were flooding back to me like a dam being broken. John, John, Jenny, and Jack were all familiar names and pictures were coming back to me of them, my old life, and even my college days. I was crying hysterically and it was such a relief to hear the names and remember them. All of these memories were great but I had to focus at the task at hand: finding my family.
Then, I heard another BEEP. The message stated you have 30
Hours left to find your family. Had it really been 6 hours since I awoke. I then saw some people crossing the road. I approached them but they seemed a little shocked by my appearance.
“What town is this?” I asked.
“Я не говорю по английски,” one responded in a thick Russian accent. I knew that they would be no help so I looked around but all the signs were in Russian. Despite all these foreign signs I finally spotted a sign in English. It was a billboard for auto parts. It stated that Vlad’s Auto Parts was the best in town and that you should go there for all your car’s needs. I then looked around town and finally stumbled upon the shop.
This auto parts shop reminded me more of a junkyard than an auto parts shop. There were tools just lying on the floor and broken cars with rust all over them. I could hear the sound of drilling and sawing from the back and the shop reeked from the smell of oil and old socks. I finally saw a desk hidden behind a workbench so I then approached the woman who sat at the desk.
“Can I speak to Vladimir?” I asked the woman.
“Sure, I’ll send him over,” she responded hesitantly. “Vlad, there’s a man out here to see you,” she hollered.
Suddenly, a door swung open and a man with a mustache and a beard came out. He was wearing and striped sweater with jeans and his looks made you want to crawl in a corner and hide.
“What can I do for you young fellow?” he asked menacingly.
“I was sent here by Zeke.” I said. I tried to respond in an equally menacing tone but it just sounded odd.
“Ah, good ole’ Zeke. We were pals a long while ago but we had a bit of a falling out. He asked me to give this to you,” he handed me a piece of paper and I quickly snatched it out of his hand and read the message. It stated you’ve been working hard but I’d estimate it’s getting close to nightfall and you need a place to stay. Vladimir has a guest bed at the loft above the shop and I’m sure he’d welcome you in. After that go down to the shore and you’ll see a jet ski waiting there for you. The key to the jet ski will be the easiest thing to find but also the hardest. Then, go to the island farthest out in the horizon and you’ll find me. I’ll be waiting. I looked outside and sure enough the sun was setting. Man, where had the day gone? I was anxious to finally be reunited with my family and I was sweating buckets after this long and treacherous day. Then, I asked Vladimir about the guest bed and sure enough he said that I could stay the night as long as I was out of the place by 7 O’ Clock in the morning. I realized that I was as tired as could be so I crept into bed and slept like a log.
The next morning I woke up to the sound of a BEEP from my pocket. The message said I only had 12 hours left to save my family. I took off running and headed toward the coastline. I was gasping for air as I sprinted towards the coast but I couldn’t see it yet. I didn’t know if I could make it all the way but suddenly I saw water and looked around for the jet ski. Sure enough it was there, tethered to the dock. I then thought about what Zeke said. The key will be the hardest thing to find but also the easiest he had said. I looked around the jet ski and around the beach. Next, I thought about what he had said again. I realized that when he said easiest it might be in the simplest place but so simple no one would check there. I then checked the key slot in the jet ski and it was already in. Finally, I turned the key and headed out towards the island.
The jet ski roared as I headed out towards the horizon. Water came up the side of the jet ski and soaked me to the bone. My teeth were chattering like no tomorrow but I pushed through the cold and arrived at the island. As I stepped out of the jet ski and onto the shore I realized I had stepped on something.
“Aaaaaah!” I screamed. I curled in a ball on the ground screaming in agony. I then looked at my foot. It was cut from broken glass and the cut was as big as my palm. I looked around for something to wrap it in but I saw nothing so I took off my drenched shirt and tied it around the cut. I was still wounded from the cut but I knew I had to keep moving so I traveled up the path.
To my dismay I saw a motorcycle along the marble path with the key already in it. I hopped onto the motorcycle and then I road down the path. I saw a hill coming up and as soon as I cleared it I saw my family. I was filled with joy and tears and as I was running towards them I heard a click. My whole family was all yelling no but I was too filled with joy to even want to listen. Next, I heard a boom off in the distance. Then, one boom came even closer. Then, three more came getting closer every time. Finally, a click came from right under me and I realized what had just happened. A minefield was all around me.